Elongated article dispenser having a rotary trap chamber



May 20, 1969 A. H. ROTHBAUM 3,445,037

ELONGATED ARTICLE DISPENSER HAVING A ROTARY TRAP CHAMBER Filed Aug. 7, 1967 United States Patent US. Cl. 221-196 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser for elongated articles including a container having a rotatable dispensing mechanism to dispense articles from the container on to a support positioned beneath the container.

This invention relates generally to dispensers. More specifically it relates to dispensers for dispensing elongated objects such as in the category of toothpicks, matches or swabs.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of swabs which includes an enclosed container so to store the swabs in a clean sanitary condition where they cannot be touched by a hand or other object, and wherein there is a dispensing mechanism to remove the swabs one at a time from within the container.

Another object is to provide a swab dispenser having an access opening for reloading the container.

Yet another object is to provide a swab dispenser wherein the swab is dispensed in a manner so that one end thereof protrudes in a position so that it may be easily grasped between the fingers.

Other objects are to provide a swab dispenser which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a further study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 4 showing a modified construction,

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents an easy swab dispenser according to the present invention wherein there is a housing 11 for a central compartment 12 within which swabs 13 may be stored in a sanitary condition.

Patented May 20, 1969 ice The housing 11 includes a door 14 at its upper end attached by hinges 15 to the housing, the door closing an opening used for replenishing the compartment with swabs.

A rotatable dispensing mechanism 16 at the bottom of the compartment 12 includes a rotatable roller 17 journalled in bearings 18 in the sides 19 of the housing. The roller is rotated by a knob 20 external of the housing where it may be manually rotated by fingers 21. A groove 22 in the roller serves to pick up one swab and carry it outward of the compartment, the swab falling from the groove when the roller is turned one-half way around so to let the swab drop into a trough 23 where it can be manually picked up by the hands.

In a modified construction shown in FIGURES 3 to 5, the dispenser has a ledge 31 to momentarily hold one end 32 of the swab while it is being dropped into the trough, as shown in FIGURE 3. This causes the end 32 to finally land so that it hangs over the edge of the trough where it may be more easily seized between the fingers.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for elongated articles comprising a housing with a central compartment for storing said articles, said housing having a loading opening at its upper end and a door over said opening including a trough having an upwardly turned edge portion adapted to support a dispensed article, said trough depending from said housing and positioned beneath an article dispensing opening in the bottom of the housing, a partition separating the compartment and trough, an opening in said partition, a roller mounted rotatably in the partition obstructing the passageway, said roller having a longitudinal groove adapted to receive an article when said groove is in communication with said compartment, said roller being movable from a position communicating with said compartment to a position in alignment with the trough, said partition rotatably supporting the ends of the roller and a narrow ledge positioned beneath the roller and adjacent a side wall of the housing to momentarily hold one end of a falling article While allowing the other end of the article to drop to the trough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 915,514 3/1909 Vogt 221--266 X WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 221-266. 277 

